A Ukrainian-born Jewish missionary says his evangelistic approach to Jewish people has changed since the attacks on 7 October 2023.
Misha Vayshengolts, who works for International Mission to Jewish People and lives in Tel-Aviv (interviewed by en last year), revealed that he has had to change how he communicates with Jewish people since Hamas attacked and killed over 1,200 Israelis.
Misha used to use a ‘three Ss’ approach, speaking to people about sin, salvation and the Saviour. He still speaks about this, but changed his approach. He said: ‘The Bible tells us to ‘speak to the heart of Jerusalem’. Currently, the hearts of Jewish people are very troubled by the issue of growing antisemitism worldwide, especially after the tragedy that occurred on 7 October 2023.
‘That is why I often start spiritual conversations with the topic of antisemitism. Israeli Jewish people ask me: “What will happen to us next? What will happen to Israel?” Undoubtedly, the topic of antisemitism helps me to start an evangelistic conversation and opens the hearts of Jewish people.
‘Before 7 October, I usually started conversations by explaining the problem of sin. It has now become more challenging for me to explain to Jewish people that they are sinners. Many Jewish people don’t feel like sinners, but like victims of someone’s sins.
‘Nevertheless, unsaved Jewish people are now asking me many more questions to which I give a spiritual answer; that the real cause of the problems in the world is sin. Their questions give me optimism, because I have more opportunities to show Jesus as the Prince of Peace and the Saviour from our own sins.’
Misha ministers primarily to Russian-speaking Jewish people, who make up about 20% of the Jewish Israeli population. While most of them are not religious and were raised as atheists, he described them as the most open of the Jewish population to the gospel, making up about 50% of the Israeli church.
Asked why he believes Russian-speaking Jewish people are more open to the gospel, Misha said: ‘Russian-speaking Jewish people often heard about Jesus from strong Christians who experienced persecution during the Soviet Union era. They are mostly atheists or agnostics, and because they don’t attend a synagogue, they have fewer prejudices against Jesus the Messiah.’
During a recent mission trip to Australia, which has about 30,000 Russian-speaking Jewish people, Misha’s approach began with talking about antisemitism, asking Jewish people who can defend them from it, and who has the authority to deal with the problem?
Misha and his companions spoke to people on the streets, gave away English, Russian and Hebrew evangelistic literature, went door-to-door in a social housing complex and spoke to small groups. He had a conversation with one woman aged 89 who had never read the Bible before and read John 3:16 for the first time.
They were regularly asked by people how God can help them right now, and why He allowed the attacks on 7 October to happen. They also ministered to people who were spiritually and emotionally weary and needed healing.
Describing the general level of receptiveness to the gospel during conversations, Misha said: ‘When I speak to a Russian-speaking Jewish man about Jesus for the first time, he usually shows curiosity. Nevertheless, he politely responds: ‘No thanks’. But when Jewish people hear the gospel message many times, a division occurs. They begin to understand that Jesus is the only truth. As a result, many Jewish people come to saving faith; but many other Jewish people refuse to listen.
‘Recently, a Jewish woman named Emma who I minister to came to faith so quickly that I was surprised. But then I was even more surprised, it turned out, that her Christian friend had been telling her about Jesus for 30 years. Therefore, I ask you, dear brothers and sisters: please, do not be silent.’
Asked how the Israeli church has been impacted by recent conflicts, Misha revealed: ‘Israeli churches didn’t stop their services due to the war, but had services on Zoom when necessary.
‘A large number of young believers were conscripted into the Israeli army. Nevertheless, Israeli churches understand that the main war is spiritual. Therefore, we began to pray more. We are also very grateful to Christians around the world for their prayerful support.’
